Custom Silver Dapple Grey Horse Necklace
Every now and again, I get the opportunity to make something a little different from my usual dog commissions, and this beautiful horse necklace for Sarah was one of those pieces.
Sarah contacted me a few years ago because she wanted a custom necklace featuring her gorgeous dapple grey horse.
Now, horses have a very special place in my heart. I spent most of my childhood riding, and I had my own horse, Cherry, for many years. So although I don't make horse jewellery nearly as often as I make dog jewellery, I absolutely love getting the chance to create something equestrian.
There is something quite magical about horses. Their shape, their movement, their expressions and, of course, those wonderful flowing manes. I always find them such beautiful animals to work with.
One of my favourite parts of making horse jewellery is creating the mane. I use fine silver to add those delicate strands and flowing details, which give the finished piece so much more texture and life. It's a lovely contrast against the main body of the horse and really helps bring the whole design together.
Sarah's horse presented another interesting challenge: that beautiful dapple grey colouring.
Dapple greys aren't simply grey. Their coats have so much variation, with lighter and darker areas creating those distinctive little dapples across the body. I had to experiment with different finishes on the silver to recreate that effect.
Getting the right balance was important. I wanted to create enough contrast to suggest the dapples without losing the lovely silvery appearance of the horse's coat.
It's one of the things I enjoy most about making custom jewellery. Every animal brings a different challenge, and I love working out how to use the silver, texture and finishes to recreate their individual features.
And with horses, that flowing mane is always a particularly satisfying detail to finish.
Although most of my commissions feature dogs, I really should make more horse jewellery. Perhaps it's my childhood riding days coming back to me, or maybe it's because I still miss having Cherry around.
Either way, making Sarah's necklace was a lovely reminder of just how much I enjoy creating pieces featuring horses.
If you would like to have your own horse recreated in silver, even from older photographs, I would love to see them. You can read more about my process here: Custom Pet Jewellery.
Who knows? Your precious friend might just be the next one I’m smiling about at my workbench.
Easy Design Process
Take the first step toward an one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery you and your pets deserve. With my simple, personal design process, I'll create a treasure that lasts a lifetime, and beyond.